It was the year 2012 when the new season of the TV show Undercover Boss started on CBS – following 60 Minutes on Sunday nights.   You probably know the drill. A boss puts on a disguise and goes to work doing jobs in the company he or she doesn’t usually do. It makes for a good show […]

“You don’t get the relationships you want.  You get the relationships you build.” How would you characterize your “relationships?” We can divide relationships into important/not important. We can also divide relationships into satisfying/unsatisfying. Not important/unsatisfying doesn’t matter. Important/satisfying relationships give life meaning and leverage.  Worth the effort to maintain. Important/unsatisfying relationships can be the source […]

Here’s a leadership fundamental that may seem to be counterintuitive: “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” Most of us associate leadership with “talking.”  Leaders have to be the boss.  They make decisions.  They give direction.  They provide inspiration.  They deliver the “hard” feedback. All of that may be true.  But when you think […]

In his book, The Second Mountain, author David Brooks says “the key to strong communities is every member maximizing positive relationships and connections.” Of course, it is the key! I think why he says it deserves consideration is for encouraging community members to increase their number of personal contacts. If you’re like me, you’re passive […]